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SOME FACTS ABOUT LEAD IN PETROL

THE BRITISH STANDARD METHOD OF CLASSIFYING PETROL QUALITY USES A PARAMETER CALLED RESEARCH OCTANE NUMBER. BY ADDING SMALL AMOUNTS OF LEAD IN SOLUBLE FORM TO PETROL THE OCTANE NUMBER CAN BE INCREASED. SUBSEQUENTLY, EXHAUST PRODUCTS CONTAINING VERY SMALL QUANTITIES OF LEAD COMPOUNDS ARE DISCHARGED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND IN TURN ARE DEPOSITED ON SOIL AND WATER. THIS ARTICLE BRIEFLY DESCRIBES INVESTIGATION CARRIED OUT TO SEE WHETHERN THERE WAS ANY HAZARD FROM THE AMOUNT OF LEAD RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, PARTICULARLY FROM CAR EXHAUSTS. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE PRESENT LEVELS OF LEAD EMISSION DO NOT OFFER A DANGER TO HEALTH BUT THAT IT IS DESIRABLE THEY BE REDUCED, AND METHODS OF ACHIEVING SUCH A REDUCTION ARE DISCUSSED.